Suikoden III FAQ v 0.1
Contents
1. Introduction
a. Review
b. Controls
c. History of the Game
d. Basic Strategies
e. The Original Water Margin Tale
2. Walkthrough
Chapter 1: Sparks to a Flame
Geddoe
Hugo
Chris
3. Gameplay Strategies
a. Help! I'm Stuck!
4. 108 Stars of Destiny Guide
5. The Castle!
6. Item List
7. Armor List
8. Rune List
9. Secrets and Sidequests
10.Thanks, Legal Stuff, Updates
1. Introduction
Hello and welcome to FoxSpiritShadow's Mighty Suikoden III FAQ o' Doom.
Inside here you will find as much gameplay-related information as I can
possibly stuff into a rich text file. There will be excitement and popcorn
and people being loud in the theater, but I managed to get rid of the sticky
gum, so…um yeah. I'm not a native English speaker, but I have been studying
for years so my English should be okay for the purposes of this FAQ. If
you have corrections or suggestions to make or questions to ask cause I
wasn't clear enough, well, that's what e-mail addresses are for and mine
is: foxspiritshadow@yahoo.co.uk. You can also find me at the Suikoden III
Boards, so be sure to check there before you e-mail to ask a question I
or the countless lovely people who feel like helping out your ass have
answered many times that is not yet in this guide. As for the FAQ, there
are spoilers in The Castle, Walkthrough, 108 Stars of Destiny, Secrets and
Sidequests and the Help! I'm Stuck! of Gameplay Strategies sections. All
else is 100% spoiler free. I try not to spoil anything, but it's hard if
I have to warn you about a story event or depending on the order you choose
to view the scenarios.
Suikoden III is Konami's newest installment in a series that takes some
of its material from a Chinese legend of the same name (well in Japanese
that is) and concerns collecting an entourage of 108 Stars of Destiny in
order to overthrow some corrupt political movements going on. III finds
the first time the series is in 3D and makes a number of improvements to
the formula. This FAQ is mainly to help out people who can't understand
Japanese too well and are lost in recruiting characters or other parts of
the game. If you're looking for plot-related translation information, please
refer to my in-depth FAQ, which I hope will be accepted by Mr. GameFAQs
editor, whoever he is. Updates will be posted at the bottom of the FAQ.
You can always find updates to this FAQ at the one and only GameFAQs (I
expect you know the URL :P). If you'd like to have it for your site, please
e-mail me and ask. With that out of the way, let's get going, shall we?
2. Walkthrough
A. Chapter 1: Sparks to a Flame
Geddoe
Hugo
Chris
Insert CD into PS2. Get comfy. Turn on PS2. Flip out at gorgeous anime intro,
be sure to pick up your jaw off the floor as you'll need it later. See that
nice art screen? Select start. Okay, so here's the Japanese and my job starts.
When you select a new game you will be given an option to load past Suikoden
save data. The menu screen says Suikoden II or Suikogaiden Vol. 2 data (or
was it the manual? I keep forgetting). For now, you'll need a Japanese version
of Suikoden II or Suikogaiden in order to load that data, I'll check later
to see if other Suikoden Japanese game saves work and what the possible
difference is. If you don't have any of that, don't worry. If you do, you
need to have the data on your PS2 memory card that you use for PS2 saves,
copied from your PS1 memory card. So be sure to do that in advance. If you
do, move the cursor up the first option that says はい and choose the second
option, which the cursor is on by default, that says いいえ。
Alright, alright, I'll be serious now. The second screen you'll come to
should look familiar if you've played a lot of RPGs. If you can't read Japanese
then on the left side there is a menu of three option for characters. The
top is hiragana, the second one is katakana and the third is romaji. Choose
the third to get an English alphabet to decide the name for the Flame Hero
in English, or enter goobledegook for the Japanese options. My personal
favorites チンチン、ミスタドリラ、しょう(my name) and たつひと。So if you want
to keep it Japanese, find those characters somehow and input them. I believe
O is input and X is erase last character. Trust me, チンチン is the most manly
and wonderful name out of my suggestions, all other characters in the game
will look up to you with a new sense of respect if you name the Flame Hero
this!
Next you'll be taken to Trinity Sight System Character Select Screen. Relax,
its not that complicated. Here you can choose which character's story you
would like to see. Keep in mind that once you choose them and save within
that story, you cannot go back to the Trinity Sight without having a separate
save there, and will fall into a black hole of oblivion from which you'll
be cursed to eat endless meals of curry and clam chowder. So, the bottom
option is to save and the top (I believe O button) is to choose a chapter
(選ぶ). In the beginning, you'll see a short clip for Geddoe, Chris or Hugo,
and then can choose which first chapter you'd like to play. These are small
slices so you can decide who looks the best to you.
In Geddoe's clip there are 3 shadowy figures, one apologizes for not being
able to follow him any longer and it is a somewhat bittersweet farewell
between the three mystery characters. One of them says, that he would like
to believe that people could the truth inside them for just a little longer.
In Chris's clip, after the parade, Chris is lamenting the ornamental aspect
of the parade and generally regretting the burdens of a hero. Salome (the
guy with the funky brown haircut and serious look on his face) reassures
her and tells her about the price of being a hero. Chris is also grieving
what looks like the death of people important to her, referring to a funeral.
In Hugo's clip, after he arrives at the village, the characters simply
exchange various lighthearted banter, with Sergeant Joe already showing
what a dic..I mean duck, he is. There are references to Hugo's tendency
to wake up early and go riding, and his aspiring to be a great rider.
After one of these short clips is done, you'll return to the Trinity Sight
screen. If you haven't seen the other clips, you won't be able to see the
other character's first chapter, so you'll need to select them and view
them first if you want a selection of everyone's first chapter. Otherwise,
simply hit the circle button again on the character that you just viewed
and presumably want to play. This won't make the character the main character
or anything and isn't too important a decision so don't worry about it.
Chapter 1: Sparks to a Flame
Geddoe
The game will now open on the city of Bine Del Zecks with the mercenaries
out of money and in a bad mood with their rusty skills when Ace goes to
finds Geddoe. He says that an order from the main unit has asked them to
search out the rumor of the Flame Hero appearing in the Grasslands and find
out whether if it is true or not. The choice in the conversation you'll
have here doesn't seem to have much affect on anything, as eventually you'll
have to agree to do it. But if you choose the bottom option, you'll be refusing
each time and you can make Ace squirm a bit. >:) The top option is to accept.
Once the next cutscene is over, which is where the group talks it over and
Ace comes up with the solution to ask around Ikuse Village and go into the
Grasslands itself, you'll have control. This part is the very edge of Bine
Del Zecks city. If you walk straight left, you'll hit the business district,
with an armor and rune shop, as well as appraiser who can look at items
that have ? in their names to see what they are, in which case, they'll
become usable later on in the game. The armor and rune shops are fairly
self explanatory. In the armor shop, the top option is to buy, the second
is to sell and the third is to see the rare finds that they put on display
for time to time. Same goes for item shops. Check this often as it changes
often and certain items will disappear after a while. Some of the most rare,
cool and needed items show up here, so don't ignore it, or you'll be sorry.
On this viewpoint, Geddoe's won't have very much use for the armor in the
shop, as most of it lowers your stats. So I'd save your money for better
things. In the rune shop, the first option is to attach runes, the second
is disattach them from characters and the third is buy them. As you walk
down the street, you can either turn up to the smith and lottery shop, or
continue down the street until you reach the first residence avenue. In
the residence avenue, you'll find Chris's house and a special hidden alley
that you can go down, it's the first alley to your right, just walk in.
Be sure to climb the latter and look inside, this is a place you'll want
to be checking every once in a while as it opens up a sidequest in Hugo's
viewpoint. If you're just itching to save money, you should forge the
character's weapons to higher levels in the smithery. Check the gameplay
details section for details on how the lottery works. The rest of the town,
explore at your leisure, you'll find lots of people, a market, a couple
of Stars of Destiny and when you exit there will be a cut scene where the
characters talk about their pasts and reasons for becoming a mercenary,
in which it is assumed that Geddoe has the darkest past and learned that
Ace was born in Bine Del Zecks.
At the world map, go the only way you can go, into the forest! On the first
screen, you just need to continue right, there's nothing here. On the second
screen, walk up and push through the foliage near the beginning to find
a dead guy. Push O button to be dishonorable and rob him of his corpse,
after a while, the treasure will regenerate for other characters to pillage,
so no need to feel hesitation. Go back to where you came from, and continue
on. You should come to a fork soon, on both paths there is an herb to pick,
so treasure-wise it doesn't matter which you take. I guess its quicker to
the take the lower path and then backtrack to the upper and out of the forest
if you want both.
However, if this is your first time in the forest, the character to first
cross the forest will go into a story event where you meet Fred and his
sidekick, whose name I have temporarily forgotten. They'll ask you if you've
seen or heard of a trail of the Flame Hero. Choose the top option to tell
him he went to the north and the bottom to deny you know anything about
it. After that, the overeager and rude Fred will continue on his way with
sidekick fatso scurrying to catch up. I believe this event will only appear
if you use the bridge on the lower path, but I'm not certain. Continue on
and out west side of the forest, being aware that the branch you'll meet
only lops back to the east side.
Here you can choose your path.
3. Gameplay Strategies
A. Help! I'm Stuck!
Q. It's Thomas's Chapter, I saved the boy in the mountains, now what do
I do?
A: Talk to three of the NPCs with character portraits and then an event
will occur wherein the butler will tell you about the castle's expenses
and the danger of foreclosure. After this, you'll decide to declare the
place a free city for both the Grasslands and Zexen merchants to come and
open up shop and all sorts of places will open the world map. On the world
map, visit every town you can and get as many Stars of Destiny as you can.
Once you've visited every town and gotten over 5 Stars with support abilities,
a cutscene will occur and you'll search for the librarian to end the chapter.
Q. Why can't I get past this one army battle with Chris's units?
A: Run. Retreat. Get the hell out of there. All there is to it, really.
Q: I can't defeat the Six Knights of High Honor in Geddoe's first chapter
at Karaya Clan Village!
A: Choose the second option before this, then you won't have to fight them
and the cutscene is much cooler.
Q: I hate the Man in the Mask, oh yes I do!
A: Don't worry, you're not alone, so do I.
Q: Any characters return for this one from past Suikodens?
A: Yep, you'll have to excuse my memory for the time being, but Star Dragon
Sword, Luc, Yuber, Futch, Apple, the little boy who wanted to be a doctor
in S2, Lilly, Sasarai, Lucia, Nash from Suikogaiden and the robot all return.
I have a hunch that Jowy might be Jack, but right now its just a hunch from
a couple of hints I've gotten on his story. I'm not sure yet. But Jack sure
is an awesome character, ain't he? Dowaikin the dwarf is also from dwarf
town in Toran, way back from the first game, but I'm not sure if he was
in any of the other games.
4. 108 Stars of Destiny
Notes: I'm not sure of some stuff yet and I'm doing this from memory, so
some of it might be a little sketchy. Especially the noble in Bine Del Zecks'
name, which I can't remember for the life of me. I'll update ASAP. If I
say tell them about the castle, it always means to choose the first option
of a dialogue choice.
Character: Mel
Seen in: Ikuse village, outside a house near the path to the windmills.
Chapter/Viewpoint: 1st appearance in Thomas's first chapter after you rescue
the child from the mountains.
Joining Condition: Just talk to her.
Rating: *****
In the beginning of Thomas's quest she is a very strong character with a
high level and a very powerful special attack. She'll make things a lot
easier for the time being.
Personality: She claims the puppet on her hand is real and not a puppet,
and punishes it by hitting against a wall over and over again when it says
perverted things about her, always suspecting others of wanting to be with
Mel because she's supposedly really pretty. Very weird girl. Attacks with
her puppet in battle and is a good character to put in plays. The wolf puppet's
name is Bracky.
Kidd Investigation 1 ? How does she eat meals with the puppet like that?
Kidd Investigation 2 - It seems that when she is alone in a room, she becomes
very quiet and Bracky doesn't talk.
Star: ?
Character: Mike
Seen in: Karelia, go inside the trade shop, he's the man in the corner.
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 1/2, Geddoe.
Rating: ****
The gambling game is super good for making quick money and his support skill
is nice.
Joining Condition: He'll say he wants to test your luck and gamble with
you, playing "Kabu." Choose the first option and you'll need to win 20000
pochi in order for him to join. The game is played as follows, three cards
will be drawn from a deck and you will see dealer's card as well. Choose
one of the three cards and then enter the money you want to bet at the top
of the screen. From here on, one more card will be drawn, if you want to
draw a third card, choose the first option, if you don't, choose the second.
You want to try and get as close to 9 as you can when you add all your cards.
If the cards add up over 9 then the 10 becomes a zero and its recounted.
So for instance, if you had a 7, 4, and 5 it adds up to 16 and your score
is 6. In the instance that somebody does not get a 9, the higher score wins,
unless you have a help draw. A help draw is a rare combination, like shippon,
which is an ace and a 4 that increase your gambled money by a certain amount.
You can see all the help draws by pressing the square button to hide and
show the list. If you lose, he'll ask if you want to play again. The top
option is to play, the second is to hear the rules and the third is to quit.
If you win, he'll ask if you want to double or nothing and bet on that for
another game or take your earnings. The top option is to double or nothing
and the bottom option is to take earnings.
Personality: Somewhat mysterious, Geddoe wonders about him…
Character: Edge
Seen in: Rubic, near the rune shop and Scholar House standing next to a
sword.
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 2, Geddoe
Joining Condition: Talk to him and he'll offer to duel with you for 1000
pochi. If you win, you get him and the Star Dragon Sword, though at first
he promises the Star Dragon Sword. Be sure to have relatively good armor
for the time on Geddoe and be around level 35 to make it easy for you. Choose
the first option in the dialogue.
Personality: Connected to Flik and Viktor? He received the sword from
somebody important and seems to be in some sort of training. A pretty impudent
rascal if you ask me. He and the Star Dragon Sword are constantly arguing
about who is the master of who, just like usual.
Rating: ? Haven't tested him out yet.
Character: Meimi
Seen In: Duck Village, inside the item/appraiser shop on the second floor.
I think you need a character who can climb ladders to get to her, I don't
remember.
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 1,2,3 Hugo; Thomas Chapter 1,2
Joining Condition: Its easiest to get her to join in Chapter 3 of Hugo's
viewpoint. If you tell her about the Kupt Forest, she may go wandering there
beforehand, so its best just to find the food she is researching. You'll
get your first chance to get the hands on this food after you meet Hareck
in Bras Castle, the beast man from an outside area who has come to search
for the Flame Hero. He'll have the food equipped on him when he joins. Take
it off him and give it to her, and she'll join you. Simple as that really.
Otherwise, you may have to find the item dropped by enemies in Kupt Forest
which is accessible in the same Hugo chapter. I'm not sure if enemies drop
them, but Meimi seems to think they will. Kupt Forest is the forest right
outside to the right of Duck Village. In Hugo's chapter you'll open it up
once you go to the Lizard Clan after getting Hareck and the knight from
the Free Union at Bras Castle.
Ranking: *****
Awesome because she opens the restaurant for you and makes it easier to
find food items with her support ability.
Character: Nadir
Seen in: The second floor of the inn in Karelia.
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 3, Hugo; Chapter 1,2,3 Geddoe
Joining Condition: Bring a party of 3 guys, 2 girls and one kid and he'll
join.
Character: Gordon
Seen in: The item shop owner in Ikuse Village.
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 1,2 Thomas
Joining Condition: Bring Olgyudan (the blond man with the black feather
hat and elegant look and mustache) in your party with JUST HIM and THOMAS.
NO WOMEN. That's the earliest character I know of who is elegant enough
to make Gordon join you. He'll make an item shop in your castle.
Character: Olgyudan
Seen in: Bine Del Zecks
Chapter/Viewpoint: All, but Thomas seems to be the best to recruit him
Joining Condition: I believe he'll react to Thomas the very first time you
see him and talk to him. He will have lost his precious rose brooch! Time
to replace it for him. Go to Ikuse Village and buy it at the item shop for
6000 pochi from Gordon's rare finds. Return to Bine Del Zecks and give it
to Olgyudan to watch the incredibly amusing scene and get him.
Ranking: ***
Pretty hard to hit if you up his quickness, weapon guard and evade skills,
but also has a really inconvenient and nasty special attack. Nonetheless,
he's one of the most fun to use battle members. Mostly a fighter.
Character: Kidd
Seen in: Duck Village
Chapter/Viewpoint: Chapter 1,2,3 Hugo; Chapter 1,2 Thomas, best bet is go
in Thomas's Chapter 1.
Joining Condition: After you save the kid from the mountain and start trying
to attract Star of Destiny to rescue Byude Hyuke Castle from financial ruin,
go to the Duck Village. Thomas will be able to spark an event wherein you
solve *shock* a murder mystery! First of all, offer to be his assistant,
which is the first option. Second, offer when the cutscene about when Kidd
on the scene of the crime ends, go around the room and make sure you look
at the window, the body and the dresser in the opposite corner. Just walking
to those places (behind wear Kidd is standing next to the body to look at
the body) to see them. Now talk to Kidd and then go outside, talk to the
maid duck between the inn and the room of the deceased duck. Talk to the
duck by the windmill and then talk to one of the ducks in one of the shops
wandering around, I forgot which. Once you do that, you'll get a scrap of
paper from the duck in the shop I believe. Bring this to Kidd and he will
solve the murder. Before he does though, he'll ask you who you think it
is. My memory is sketchy but I believe the first option is to say the maid
did it, the second is to say Kidd did it, the third is to say he committed
suicide and the fourth is to confess to the murder yourself. I believe you
can answer anything you want, but I choose the third option, suicide. It
turns out the duck just needed to be woken up because he was doing an extremely
painful-looking form of yoga. Er, yeah. Tell Kidd about the castle and he'll
join. This is an especially funny event because of the parody on Meitantei
Conan or Famous Detective Conan, a long-running Japanese anime about a
super-skilled boy detective, and because Kidd gives everybody a lecture
about not to jump to conclusions when he was the first to say it was a murder
in the first place! This is played out like the "moral of the story" cartoon
endings everyday. Classy stuff, Konami.
Ranking: ***** if you like story, ** if you don't
Some people don't care about the Stars of Destiny, I do. I want to know
everything I can about the characters and Kidd can investigate for you
(that's what Kidd Investigation is in my list here, all the different stuff
he digs up for you). He can also help you find characters you're lost about
and don't know how to find, but they're not that hard, so its not all that
useful. His appraise skill isn't terribly high otherwise.
Character: Kathy
Seen in: Amul Plain, North, just walk to where the trees are and you'll
see a bunch of horses in Thomas's quest
Viewpoint/Chapter: Chapter 1 Thomas
Joining Condition: Count her horses, which have been scattered due to a
stampede of wild stallions. It may be random, but if not, I counted 19.
Choose the second option I believe (again, sketchy memory, I'll check
later)either way tell her there are more than 15 horses that she thought
she had and then choose 19. Tell her about the castle and she'll join.
10.
Thanks to the following people:
My hands, for putting up with my typing and playing.
You, for reading.
Legal Stuff
This FAQ is copyright 2002 a FoxSpiritShadow creation. Steal it and I'll
tell Konami on you. If you want it, just ask me. Don't copy or spread it
around without permission. It is a work in progress and I'd rather not spread
stupidity throughout the Internet if I can keep it check. :)
Updates:
July 16th, 2002
-First update, everything is new, new, spaaaarkling new! V 0.01 baby!
-Watch out, weird stuff and inconsistency everywhere, will be updating to
correct it frequently and organize the FAQ. But its something for now, heh?